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Results for “Reproducibility”

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PubMed1985

Observer reproducibility during computer-assisted planimetric measurements of nuclear features.

To evaluate observer variance during microprocessor-assisted planimetry, nuclear features (area, perimeter, and form factor) were studied in a series of mammary ductal carcinomas. Fragments of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue were re-embedded in plastic, sectioned at 1 micron, stained with methylene blue, and studied with a Zeiss-Kontron MOP-3 microprocessor-assisted planimeter. Both interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility were evaluated, the former among three different observers and the latter by two observers repeating their own measurements. Reproducibility was good for measurement of area, but deteriorated progressively for measurement of perimeter and form factor. Not only was observer correlation poor (identified via linear regression), but paired t-tests also showed consistent variation among observers. The major difficulty was in following the irregular nuclear contours that are characteristic of cancer cells. It is concluded that adequate demonstration of observer reproducibility remains an essential part of tissue investigation, even when the objective methods typical of morphometry are used.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1988

Prostatic adenocarcinoma: reproducibility and correlation with clinical stages of four grading systems.

One hundred cases of adenocarcinoma of the prostate were independently examined by light microscopy by three pathologists and graded according to the Gleason, Mostofi, Böcking, and MD Anderson systems (MDAH). The results were compared in order to establish which one of these classifications was the most reproducible and then correlated to the clinical stage in order to determine how accurately each classification can predict the spread of the tumors. The MDAH system, based on the percentage of gland formation in the tumor, was the easiest to use and most reproducible system. On the other hand, the Mostofi and the Böcking systems had the best correlation between grade and stage while the MDAH system had the worst. The Böcking system was the best grading system when reproducibility and accuracy in predicting the prognosis were both taken into account.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2001

Cloning to reproduce desired genotypes.

Cloned sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and mice have now been produced using somatic cells for nuclear transplantation. Animal cloning is still very inefficient with on average less than 10% of the cloned embryos transferred resulting in a live offspring. However successful cloning of a variety of different species and by a number of different laboratory groups has generated tremendous interest in reproducing desired genotypes. Some of these specific genotypes represent animal cell lines that have been genetically modified. In other cases there is a significant demand for cloning animals characterized by their inherent genetic value, for example prize livestock, household pets and rare or endangered species. A number of different variables may influence the ability to reproduce a specific genotype by cloning. These include species, source of recipient ova, cell type of nuclei donor, treatment of donor cells prior to nuclear transfer, and the techniques employed for nuclear transfer. At present, there is no solid evidence that suggests cloning will be limited to only a few specific animals, and in fact, most data collected to date suggests cloning will be applicable to a wide variety of different animals. The ability to reproduce any desired genotype by cloning will ultimately depend on the amount of time and resources invested in research.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

The reproducibility of computerized boundary analysis for measuring optic disc pallor in the normal optic disc.

The optic discs of eight normal subjects were photographed on three separate visits under widely varying conditions. Each photograph was scanned by a television camera, converted to digital form, and then analyzed using computer image analysis techniques. The computer was programmed to delineate the boundary around the optic disc and the area of pallor. The percentage of disc pallor was then computed across the entire disc and for each disc quadrant. The reproducibility of the procedure was determined by evaluating several photographic parameters: camera flash intensity, film type, magnification, and centering of the disc in the photograph. The focus adjustment on the television scanner was also varied. Under carefully controlled conditions, results showed that the reproducibility of measuring the total percent of disc pallor was 2%. Results for reproducibility are also given for less than optimal conditions and for manual planimetry on the same set of photographs.

Computers↗

PubMed1997

Postural sway and stepping response among working population: reproducibility, long-term stability, and associations with symptoms of the low back.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the day-to-day reproducibility and long-term (9 months) stability of variables of postural control, and the associations of these variables with low-back and lower-extremity pain in a working population. DESIGN: Test-retest measurements of 18 healthy subjects. Cross-sectional study of 165 working women and 343 men. BACKGROUND: Sudden loss of postural balance may result in microtraumas of back structures. Therefore workers with decreased postural control may run an increased risk of low-back pain. There are few reports describing the reproducibility of force-plate-based posturography. METHODS: Amplitude and velocity of postural sway were measured with a force-plate in a two-feet stance with eyes open and closed, and in a one-foot stance with eyes open. A stepping response test was developed to measure the dynamic components of balance. RESULTS: The mean differences between the repeated measurements were generally 5-10% and the standard deviations of these differences were up to a quarter or one third of the mean measurement values. Sway velocity showed the best overall reproducibility. Men had a larger sway than women independent of age and anthropometry. The group of non-symptomatic subjects showed wide variation and a slightly lower sway than the groups with low-back or lower-extremity pain. CONCLUSIONS: Postural sway has moderate stability, wide variation, and slight associations with low-back symptoms in a working population.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

Reproducibility test on a children's insole for measuring the dynamic plantar pressure distribution.

INTRODUCTION:: This study aimed to establish the reproducibility of a insole measuring system specifically designed for use inside children's shoes. It is important to carry out such an investigation before any measurements are taken in order to ensure that any errors associated with the system are known and quantified. The children's insole had 84 pressure sensors, compared to the adult insoles, with 99 pressure sensors. The sensor technology was essentially the same as used in the adult Pedar system, and incorporated capacitance-based pressure transducers. MATERIALS AND METHOD:: An eight year old boy, height 123 cm, weight 29 kg, was used in the study. Dynamic tests were carried out with the Pedar insole measuring system. The subject walked on a treadmill, at a speed comfortable for him (3 km/h), with the insoles placed between the foot and the shoe. No fixation of the insole to the shoe was used. Seven runs were completed, each with four tests recorded of more than twenty steps. In between each run the insoles were completely removed from the shoe and then replaced. A zero measurement was also taken before the continuation of the next run. Before analysis of the data, twenty steps were selected. The first two steps in each sequence were ignored and the following twenty steps were used in the analysis, ten each for the left and the right foot. Any additional steps recorded were also ignored. The average force for the test data file was initially noted, together with the local pressure for each of the forefoot, midfoot, heel and toe regions, for both the left and the right foot, separately. RESULTS:: The within test data and in-between test data when walking on a treadmill at constant speed was found to be reproducible (F(0.01)) for 6 out of 7 tests for the left and the right foot. The standard deviation of the average force for the left and the right foot was 3%. The 95% confidence intervals for the mean of the peak pressure in the total object was within 6% for the treadmill and free walking data. There was no significant difference between these data. The 95% confidence intervals for the mean of the peak pressure under the big toe was 9% for the treadmill data and 16% for the free walking data. CONCLUSIONS:: These results, together with other published data (McPoil et al. 1995) show that the pedar children's insole system provides accurate and reproducible measurements of the dynamic plantar pressure distribution. The clinician can therefore use this system with confidence as a therapeutic or rehabilitative tool.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Hemodynamic reproducibility during blood flow measurements of hemodialysis synthetic grafts.

We have previously shown that graft blood flow (Qa) has a poor accuracy in predicting graft thrombosis. In this study, we determined whether hemodynamic variation helps explain this poor predictive accuracy. We also determined whether standardized timing of Qa measurements, which is widely recommended, will promote measurement reproducibility. We analyzed variations in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in seven consecutive dialysis sessions for 51 patients and determined the influence of MAP on Qa (by ultrasound dilution). We used a pooled coefficient of variation (CV) to summarize MAP variation within individual patients (computed as +/-2 CVs). MAPs from the seven sessions varied widely, and most variation was present with the first MAPs at the beginning of the sessions. These first MAPs varied by +/-23%, whereas variation for the entire session was +/-28%. The influence of MAP on Qa was determined by measuring the two together during consecutive thirds of a single session. The percentage of change in MAP (DeltaMAP) and Qa (DeltaQa) from the first to middle or last thirds of the session varied over wide ranges: -37% to 86% and -43% to 78%, respectively. The DeltaQa versus DeltaMAP correlation was relatively strong for changes between the first and middle thirds (r = 0.666) and first and last thirds (r = 0.646) of the session (both P: < 0.01). We conclude that MAP varies far more widely during dialysis than previously recognized. This variation is associated with large changes in Qa that may impair accuracy in predicting thrombosis. This wide MAP variation also indicates hemodynamic reproducibility is not feasible when measuring Qa. Thus, we do not recommend standardized timing of Qa measurements during dialysis. A practical method of addressing poor Qa reproducibility may be to take frequent measurements so that trends can be recognized before thrombosis occurs.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

PubMed2002

Reproducibility of common semi-quantitative parameters for evaluating lung cancer glucose metabolism with positron emission tomography using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose.

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) has been used for various cancers, but reproducibility of common utilized semi-quantitative parameters, such as the maximal single pixel standardized uptake value (SUV) and effective glycolytic volume (EGV), remains unknown. Knowledge of precision is essential for applying these parameters to treatment monitoring. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the precision of PET results obtained by repeated examinations of patients with untreated lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with lung cancer underwent two PET examinations within a week with no intervening treatment. The reproducibility of three parameters:((1) maximal SUV of 1 x 1 pixel anywhere in the tumor, calculated on the basis of predicted lean body mass [SULmax]; (2) highest average SUV at 4 x 4 pixels in the tumor adjusted by predicted lean body mass [SULmean]; and (3) EGV calculated by multiplying SUL by tumor volume), using PET images obtained at 50-60 min post-injection, were examined. Plasma glucose, insulin and free fatty acid levels were also monitored. RESULTS: The SULmax, SULmean, and EGV were measured with a mean +/- S.D. difference of 11.3% +/- 8.0, 10.1% +/- 8.2, and 10.1% +/- 8.0%, respectively. By multiplying SUL by plasma glucose concentration, the mean differences were slightly reduced to 7.2% +/- 5.8, 6.7% +/- 6.2, and 9.5% +/- 8.2, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that commonly used semi-quantitative indices of glucose metabolism on PET show high reproducibly. This supports their use in sequential quantitative analysis in PET, such as in treatment response monitoring.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Reproducibility of Nordic Sleep Questionnaire in spinal cord injured.

A recently proposed Nordic Sleep Questionnaire (NSQ) comprises 26 questions concerning qualitative and quantitative aspects of the respondent's sleep habits. Its reproducibility was evaluated in 32 spinal cord injured individuals (SCI), 24 men and eight women (23-72 years), and 79 normal subjects, 23 men and 56 women (19-77 years). They completed the NSQ twice at a median interval of 15 days (range 10-26) and 27 days (range 4-103) respectively. The group of normal subjects were evenly divided into group 26, i.e. those who completed the two NSQs within 26 days, and group 27 with 27 days or more between their replies. Generally, group 27 showed no worse test-retest agreement than group 26. In addition, the respondents' answers, with a few exceptions, were reasonably stable in terms of test-retest agreement or standard deviation. The SCI group exhibited the same level of reproducibility, although they had more 'pathology' to report and thus more scope for contradicting themselves. The questions in the NSQ generally were satisfactorily reproducible. However, answers to the ordered five-point questions about sleepiness in the morning and during the daytime ought to be interpreted with caution. The same may be said about the number of minutes required to fall asleep, and the duration of daytime naps.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Abnormal metabolic network activity in Parkinson's disease: test-retest reproducibility.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with an abnormal pattern of regional brain function. The expression of this PD-related covariance pattern (PDRP) has been used to assess disease progression and the response to treatment. In this study, we validated the PDRP network as a measure of parkinsonism by prospectively computing its expression (PDRP scores) in (15)O-water (H(2)(15)O) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scans from PD patients and healthy volunteers. The reliability of this measure was also assessed within subjects using a test-retest design in mildly affected and advanced PD patients scanned at baseline and during treatment with levodopa or deep brain stimulation (DBS). We found that PDRP expression was significantly elevated in PD patients (P<0.001) relative to controls in a prospective analysis of brain scans obtained with either H(2)(15)O or FDG PET. A significant correlation (R(2)=0.61; P<0.001) was evident between PDRP scores computed from H(2)(15)O and FDG images in PD subjects scanned with both tracers. Test-retest reproducibility was very high (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)>0.92) for PDRP scores measured both within PET session and between sessions separated by up to 2 months. This high reproducibility was observed in both early stage and advanced PD patients scanned at baseline and during treatment. The within-subject variability of this measure was less than 10% for both unmedicated and treated conditions. These findings suggest that the PDRP network is a reproducible and stable descriptor of regional functional abnormalities in parkinsonism. The quantification of PDRP expression in PD patients can serve as a potential biomarker in PET intervention studies for this disorder.

Aged↗

PubMed1984

Reproducibility and variability of speech muscle activity in athetoid dysarthria of cerebral palsy.

Athetoid dysarthria is thought to result from involuntary movements which are variable and irregular in nature. In this study, electromyographic (EMG) activity recorded from six speech muscles was quantified during repetitions of a test sentence by normal and athetoid adult subjects. In the athetoid subjects the articulation of the test sentence was disrupted intermittently by involuntary activity which usually occurred in the time intervals between the syllables in the test sentence, rather than during articulation of the syllables themselves. The EMG activity associated with each syllable in the test sentence was partitioned into reproducible and variable components. The ratio of the reproducible component to the variable component--the signal-to-noise ratio--did not differ significantly between the two subject groups. In the athetoid subjects, however, the reproducible component of the EMG activity was grossly abnormal. We concluded that this abnormal voluntary activity, rather than variable involuntary activity, was the primary cause of athetoid dysarthria.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic vasculature of the normal dog: blood velocity measurements and reproducibility.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of color Doppler imaging (CDI) of the vasculature of the normal canine orbit and eye. Eight normal Beagles were evaluated by Doppler imaging. The goals of the study were to determine the location, spectral waveform morphology, specific blood velocity parameters, and reproducibility for the ophthalmic and orbital vessels most frequently identified in the normal dog. Vessels identified a majority of the time (> 50%) included: external ophthalmic artery, dorsal external ophthalmic vein, ventral external ophthalmic vein, internal ophthalmic artery, anterior ciliary artery and vein, short and long posterior ciliary arteries, primary retinal arteries, and vortex veins. Other vessels imaged less frequently included: external ethmoidal artery (50%), and primary retinal veins (25%). For each blood vessel the time averaged velocity, peak systolic velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, pulsatility index, and resistive index were determined. The ophthalmic and orbital vessels have unique spectral waveforms and velocities which serve as a basis for identification. Reproducibility of the most commonly imaged vessels of the canine eye and orbit with Doppler imaging was high (< 10% variation). Doppler imaging has the potential for determining noninvasively and consecutively the blood velocity parameters found in orbital and ocular diseases, including orbital inflammations and neoplasms; intraocular inflammations and neoplasms; vascular diseases including systemic vascular disease (hypertension), vasculopathies, and anemia; the glaucomas; and documentable follow-up after medical and/or surgical treatment of these diseases.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Doppler flow velocity waveforms in late first- and early second-trimester fetuses: reproducibility of waveform recordings.

The objective of the study was to assess the reproducibility of Doppler flow measurements of the fetal umbilical vein and artery, descending and ascending aorta, mitral and tricuspid valve, pulmonary artery, inferior vena cava and ductus venosus in early pregnancy. In a cross-sectional study, Doppler measurements were obtained in a total of 54 women at 11-16 weeks of gestation, at 2-5 different vascular sites, on 3-5 different occasions, at 5-min time intervals. The total variance in the various flow velocity parameters was partitioned in a between-subject and within-subject component by analysis of variance, and, from these calculations, coefficients of variation in waveform recording were calculated. Flow velocity waveform recording was characterized by coefficients of variation in the range 2.2-5.7% except for the acceleration time (18.6-24.5%) and percentage reverse flow (8.8%). In conclusion, our data suggest that fetal flow velocity waveforms in early pregnancy demonstrate good reproducibility in the individual subject, while all parameters depict larger variabilities for between-subject values. Acceleration time turned out to be poorly reproducible. If a single flow velocity waveform measurement is used for the future evaluation of clinical conditions in early pregnancy, one has to consider that normal values will display a rather wide range.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Presence of pulsations and reproducibility of waveform recording in the umbilical and left portal vein in normal pregnancies.

Reproducibility and inter-observer variability of intra- and extra-abdominal umbilical venous flow velocity and left portal venous flow velocity as well as heart-synchronous waveform pulsations in these vessels were studied in 23 women at 34-38 weeks of normal pregnancy.Limited reproducibility, expressed by large intra-patient coefficients and limits of agreement between two observers, was established for all standardized recording sites. Pulsations, defined as negative venous deflections of at least 10% of the mean velocity, were demonstrated at all locations ranging from 19.6% of the measurements at the free-floating loop of the umbilical vein to 78.4% of the measurements at the left portal vein. The present study shows that the limited reproducibility of venous flow velocity waveforms should be taken into consideration, and that the presence of pulsations can be demonstrated in normal late pregnancy.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reproducibility and clinical and concurrent validity of the MSF-4: a four-item male sexual function questionnaire for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: The MSF-4 (Male Sexual Function 4-item) questionnaire is a condition-specific four-item scale of men's sexuality. We describe two studies that were conducted to assess the reproducibility and validity of the MSF-4 questionnaire. METHODS: Study 1 was a Phase III, multicenter study with a double-blind, parallel group design which was conducted in five countries. The objectives were to check the construct validity and factorial structure of the MSF-4 along with internal consistency reliability and clinical validity. Study 2 was a longitudinal, noncomparative, observational multicenter study to assess the reproducibility and the clinical and concurrent validity of the MSF-4. RESULTS: When exploratory factor analysis was performed with a free number of factors, the variability of the global MSF-4 score was based on a single factor across all countries in Study 1 except Spain. There was a high level of internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alphas 0.68-0.90) and the MSF-4 was able to significantly discriminate different health states as assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) or Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire. In study 2, there was a significant correlation between the MSF-4 and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores (p = .0001 for all items) especially erectile function (correlation coefficient -0.77). The MSF-4 was able to distinguish among patients with differing degrees of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms as measured by the I-PSS (p = .0001) and between those with and without sexual disorders (p = .0001). CONCLUSION: The MSF-4 is a psychometrically validated questionnaire with good reproducibility and clinical validity, which allows easy and appropriate assessment of male sexual function in the clinical setting.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Further evaluation of reproducibility and prognostic value of histologic typing and grading in FIGO stage I ovarian cancer patients without systemic locoregional adjuvant treatment.

In order to analyse the reproducibility and prognostic value of histologic typing and different methods of histologic grading, 102 hematoxylin and eosin stained slides of primary FIGO stage I ovarian cancers of the common epithelial types were evaluated. Patients were treated by surgery only. Histologic typing was done using the FIGO criteria and overall total agreement was 61%. Survival was not statistically significant (P-value range: 0.31-0.66). For grading, three different methods were used: (a) the 'intuitive' method; (b) the FIGO method; and (c) the so-called Pathology Research and Practice (PRP) method, which is based on invasion, architecture and nuclear atypia. The best intra- and interobserver results were obtained with the PRP criteria (interobserver agreement rate: 84.3%, varkappa 0.67; intraobserver agreement rate: 87.3%, K 0.76). Univariate survival analyses showed significant differences between grades for all methods and observers. Results of the PRP method were clearly better than for the FIGO method (PRP, Mantel-Cox range 6.70-24.52,P-value range 0.07 - < 0.0001; FIGO, Mantel-Cox range 5.31-6.77,P-value range 0.07-0.034). The 5-year survival per grade showed considerable variation within and between the observers, and was higher with higher grade. We conclude that the assessment of histologic type was reproducible but prognostically not significant in this set of FIGO stage I ovarian cancer patients. The intra- and interobserver reproducibility of the same grading method was fair to good, and showed highly significant results for survival from the PRP method. However, application of different grading methods could result in considerable prognostic variations for the 'same' grades.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Reproducibility of the diagnosis of dysplasia in Barrett esophagus: a reaffirmation.

Morphologic assessment of dysplasia in Barrett esophagus, despite limitations, remains the basis of treatment. We rigorously tested modified 1988 criteria, assessing intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility. Participants submitted slides of Barrett mucosa negative (BE) and indefinite (IND) for dysplasia, with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and with carcinoma. Two hundred fifty slides were divided into 2 groups. The first 125 slides were reviewed, without knowledge of the prior diagnoses, on 2 occasions by 12 gastrointestinal pathologists without prior discussion of criteria. Results were analyzed by kappa statistics, which correct for agreement by chance. A consensus meeting was then held, establishing, by group review of the index 125 slides, the criteria outlined herein. The second 125-slide set was then reviewed twice by each of the same 12 pathologists, and follow-up kappa statistics were calculated. When statistical analysis was performed using 2 broad diagnostic categories (BE, IND, and LG v HG and carcinoma), intraobserver agreement was near perfect both before and after the consensus meeting (mean kappa = 0.82 and 0.80). Interobserver agreement was substantial (kappa = 0.66) and improved after the consensus meeting (kappa = 0.70; P =.02). When statistical analysis was performed using 4 clinically relevant separations (BE; IND and LGD; HGD; carcinoma), mean intraobserver kappa improved from 0.64 to 0.68 (both substantial) after the consensus meeting, and mean interobserver kappa improved from 0.43 to 0.46 (both moderate agreement). When statistical analysis was performed using 4 diagnostic categories that required distinction between LGD and IND (BE; IND; LGD; HGD and carcinoma), the pre-consensus meeting mean intraobserver kappa was 0.60 (substantial agreement), improving to 0.65 after the meeting (P <.05). Interobserver agreement was poorer, with premeeting and postmeeting mean values unchanged (kappa = 0.43 at both times). Interobserver agreement was substantial for HGD/carcinoma (kappa = 0.65), moderate to substantial for BE (kappa = 0.58), fair for LGD (kappa = 0.32), and slight for IND (kappa = 0.15). The intraobserver reproducibility for the diagnosis of dysplasia in BE was substantial. Interobserver reproducibility was substantial at the ends of the spectrum (BE and HG/carcinoma) but slight for IND. Both intraobserver and interobserver variation improved overall after the application of a modified grading system developed at a consensus conference but not in separation of BE, IND, and LGD. The criteria used by the group are presented. HUM PATHOL 32:368-978.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2002

Intra-laboratory reproducibility of the hand hygiene reference procedures of EN 1499 (hygienic handwash) and EN 1500 (hygienic hand disinfection).

The bactericidal efficacy of hand antiseptic products is determined in Europe using two norms--EN1499 (hygienic handwash), and EN 1500 (hygienic hand disinfection) based on reducing the counts of bacteria on artificially contaminated hands. Each requires 12-15 data sets per test and comparison with a reference procedure. Recent research using EN 1500 suggested that most alcohol-based hand gels are significantly less effective than the reference alcohol (2-propanol 60%), whereas liquid alcohol-based rubs are not. However concerns about the accuracy and reproducibility of the norm reference procedures have been raised. We therefore analysed 23 experiments carried out using EN 1500 representing 342 hand disinfection procedures, and 12 experiments using EN 1499 representing 178 handwashes, all performed in the same laboratory for reproducibility of the reference procedures. The reference alcohol gave a mean log(10) reduction factor (RF) of 4.64 +/- 0.93; only one data set gave a significantly higher result (5.14, P = 0.034), and one significantly lower (4.05; P = 0.034). Analysis of all 23 means revealed no significant difference (P = 0.188; ANOVA model). The reference soap gave a mean reduction of 2.82 +/- 0.49. Two data sets were significantly higher than this (3.35,P < 0.001; 3.12, P < 0.001) and two significantly lower (2.55, P = 0.031; 2.47,P = 0.004). Analysis of all the means did reveal a significant difference (P < 0.001, ANOVA model), which is probably explained by the smaller standard deviations of these results. Pre-values (bacteria recovered from fingers before a reference procedure) correlated significantly with RFs for both hand disinfection (correlation coefficient: 0.291;P = 0.01) and handwash (correlation coefficient: 0.372, P = 0.01). Overall both procedures gave accurate and reproducible results.

Analysis of Variance↗